School Candidates: Improper Grilling?
Reviewing the basis for endorsement of political candidates by the school unions provides a chilling example of why our educational system is in trouble. Are you a member of the Moral Majority, Christian Coalition or Church of the Open Door? These are some of the questions candidates were asked.
Obviously, the leaders of the school unions are a "vocal minority" and not representative of the Carroll County teachers and school employees. The union mentality has reduced what used to be a dedicated and deservedly respected profession to a mere grunt, sweat-shop labor pool no different from the United Mine Workers and the United Auto Workers.
Unfortunately for the taxpaying public which foots the bill for this excessively expensive failure and the children who become the victims of educational fads, the school unions have done to education what the UAW and UMW did to their industries -- negotiated themselves into costly obsolescence. . . . Rather than elevating the profession, the unions have a demeaning effect.
The major criterion for union endorsement is the self-serving greed of the unions, i.e., how much more money can they squeeze from the public and what candidates will give it to them? Since the unions get a cut in the form of dues, they can feather their own nests at public expense. Carroll County Commissioner Donald Dell's special interest policies fit in well with the special money interests of the school unions and earns their endorsement. With these motives, an endorsement by the school unions could be more of a kiss of death for a candidate than a "blessing."
William M. Bowen
Westminster
As part of the endorsement process, I was invited to appear before the Carroll County Education Association's government relations committee for an interview. While not selected for their endorsement, I was treated with respect and certainly both support their right to choose who they feel best represents their concerns and welcome their involvement in the election process. I certainly have a high regard for our educators.
However, one part of the interview process was disturbing, especially since the Carroll County Education Association represents teachers who spend a great amount of time with our children and can influence their minds. I was told that due to past concerns three new questions were being asked of all candidates: What is their party affiliation? Are they members of the Pat Robertson group? Are they members of the Jimmy
Swaggart group?
First, the school board election is non-partisan. Secondly, I was not asked as to membership in the Klan, Communist Party or if I was a Satan worshiper. Matter of fact, the three questions would be illegal questions to ask a prospective teacher.
My concern is that suddenly being a Christian, who is thought to be far right, is seen as "more dangerous" than a person who may be far left or even a criminal. While I am a Republican, belong to a major religion, am not far right or left (but appreciate the passion that steers people to the extreme), I am a Christian. I do resent the fact that religion, not educational beliefs, is being interjected into the process by an organization that represents educators who are training the minds of our youth.
For the record, I believe values, morals and religious education belongs to the family and church. It is not the responsibility of the federal government or the school system. When elected to the school board, I will strive to maintain this separation.
Michael R. Baker
Westminster
The writer is a candidate for the Carroll County Board of Education.
I read the Aug. 4 editorial in The Evening Sun entitled, "The proper grilling of candidates," regarding questions put to some local candidates for political office by representatives of the Carroll County Education Association. The CCEA inquired about the candidates' affiliation with certain right-wing groups and a local church, known for its political activity.
This brought to mind the meeting between Southern Baptist ministers and John F. Kennedy in Texas during Kennedy's presidential campaign where the ministers asked about Kennedy's ties to the Pope and the Vatican. They wanted to be assured that voting for him would not threaten their religious freedom, and they were so assured.
It is obvious that the CCEA is just as concerned, as those ministers were, about candidates for political office who are inimical to its interests, and it has identified certain affiliations as indicative of behavior once the individual is in office. According to local newspaper reports and letters, the CCEA did not question whether the candidate was a Christian or a conservative but whether the candidate was affiliated with certain organizations. There is a big difference here, but apparently some commentators failed to see it.
The CCEA didn't lump all Christians or conservatives into one group and neither should commentators on the issue or readers of The Evening Sun. The CCEA has legitimate concerns, given the actions of the particular organizations and the actions of individuals representing those organizations, and no one should find fault. . . . In fact, I think that the League of Women Voters throughout the state of Maryland should ask the same questions and publish the answers in its voters guide.
Dan Bridgewater
Westminster
The Factory No One Wants
So Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is upset that the federal government might not build a germ warfare factory in Frederick County? Perhaps he would be surprised that many of us do not want a germ warfare factory that will be culturing live, dangerous bacteria near our schools and homes.
. . . Surely the few jobs and the federal money that such a facility would bring into the area are not worth the hazards to our lives that an accident at such a facility would cause. In these days when we see so many health problems caused by pollution and toxic waste, it would be thoughtless and irresponsible to bring such a facility into so densely populated an area as Frederick.
It behooves us to speak up now before the foundation has been laid for this ill-conceived project.
Denise Barker
Westminster
Don't Believe Polls
Recently there seems to have been a media blitz to convince the voters that the primary race for governor is all but over. This blitz grew out of a recent poll of a paltry 850 voters out of the many thousands that will be cast in the primary election, indicating that Parris Glendening was the leading Democrat, even though the political tide of candidate American Joe Miedusiewski seems to be on a rapid rise, and that Helen Bentley is the sure choice of the Republicans. Not so Republicans, if you sense the countywide response to the candidacy of Ellen Sauerbrey or read the Voters Choice page in the Frederick Post, where she is the runaway choice of the voters.
People want change, not just in Carroll and Frederick counties, but all over the state. Helen Bentley is a long-time member of the Schaefer and old-line Republican network that has dominated the political scene in the state for years. With the election of Helen Bentley and her dismal voting record for unions, big spending and government waste, more often than not against her own party, voters can expect no change, only more of the same. Of course, Mr. Glendening, who hasn't told the taxpayers where he will get the extra $300 million to pay for his campaign promises, would be even worse.
Our citizens across the state, of both parties, want the next governor to be one upon whom they can depend to "rein in" the excessive spending of their tax dollars; who will provide a better climate for economic prosperity; who will address the issue of crime in a manner that will mandate a positive impact; who will halt the rapid spread of the bureaucratic maze that aggressively in fringes upon the lives and property rights of citizens; who will not condone the frittering away of our public funds for costly "faddism school programs," but will demand sound basic education for all, and one who will chop the waste and extravagance out of our state spending. . . .
Ellen Sauerbrey is the right person for the right job at the right time. She is an elegant lady whose character and integrity are without flaw. She is intellectually brilliant, a graduate of Western Maryland College, and as minority leader of the state House of Delegates has commanded the respect of the members of the legislature from both parties. . . . Among all the candidates of both parties, she is best qualified to tackle the huge and ominous fiscal problems that the next governor of our state will face -- a legacy from our present "spendthrift" administration.
Willard L. Hawkins Sr.
New Windsor
Elmer Wolfe Vote
We would like to thank school board members Scott Stone, Carolyn Scott, Ann Ballard and Joe Mish for their vote to support the fifth-graders attending Elmer Wolfe Elementary this coming school year. Although we questioned their impartiality prior to the hearing since they had just appointed Dr. Brian Lockard as superintendent, their vote has restored our faith in the public school system.
The board members clearly focused on the needs of the children, not on the "logistics and bureaucracy," as noted by Mr. Stone. The parents, children and community of Elmer Wolfe Elementary School extend our sincere gratitude.
Vickie Mastalerz
Union Bridge
The letter was signed by six parents of Elmer Wolfe Elementary students.